This paper investigates a systematic mission design of robust and optimal orbital transfer maneuvers for a sample return mission from an asteroid. In this study, an interplanetary space flight mission design is established to obtain the minimum [Greek Letter Delta]V required for a rendezvous and sample return mission from an asteroid. Given the initial (observed) conditions of an asteroid, a (robust) genetic algorithm is implemented to determine the optimal choice of [Greek Letter Delta]V required for the rendezvous. Robustness of the optimum solution is demonstrated through incorporated bounded-uncertainties in the outbound [Greek Letter Delta]V maneuver via genetic fitness function. The improved algorithm results in a solution with improved robustness and reduced sensitivity to propulsive errors in the outbound maneuver. This is achieved over a solution optimized solely on [Greek Letter Delta]V, while keeping the increase in [Greek Letter Delta]V to a minimum, as desired. Outcomes of the analysis provide significant results in terms of improved robustness in asteroid rendezvous missions.

This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article whose final and definitive form, the Version of Record, has not been published yet. This article is under review in Acta Astronautica.

Citation Information

Sean Fritz and Kamran Turkoglu. "Genetic Algorithm Based Robust and Optimal Path Planning for Sample-Return Mission from an Asteroid on an Earth Fly-By Trajectory" (2015) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kamran_turkoglu/11/